The Congress on Monday, while condemning Twitter for temporarily suspending Rahul Gandhi’s account, accused it of adopting “double standards” and “violating the freedom of expression under the diktat of the Modi government”. Rahul Gandhi’s account was temporarily suspended by the microblogging site and a tweet he had posted with the family of the nine-year-old Dalit rape victim was taken down.
The party also claimed that the Twitter handle of INC-TV was also suspended Monday morning, news agency PTI reported.
AICC general secretary organisation, K.C. Venugopal said that the issue of temporary suspension of Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter account was discussed at the meeting of general secretaries, in-charges and PCC presidents on Sunday.
“The atrocious stance is nothing but another instance of anti-SC and anti-women mindset and inherent prejudice of the Modi Government as also a violation of freedom of expression by the Twitter India under the diktat of the Modi government. All present universally condemned this prejudicial mindset of the BJP and decided to take up this matter at all levels,” he said in a statement.
“The double standard of Twitter is too obvious as statutory commissions, BJP leaders and those holding statutory offices had put up similar pictures on Twitter on 2nd and 3rd August, two days before Rahulji’s visit,” Venugopal said, adding that the party would continue the fight until securing justice for the Dalit family.
“Instead of curtailing atrocities against Dalits across the country, the Prime Minister and the government are up to suppress the voice of leaders like Rahul Gandhi who are in the forefront to fight for justice,” he said.
“The double standards of Twitter India continue. Even as accounts raising a voice for justice continue getting blocked, Twitter handles related to the govt like @NCSC_GoI & @anjubalabjp face no action for posting the same images. Remember, truth and justice always prevail,” the Congress said on its official Twitter handle showing a picture of the blocked account of INC-TV.
The Wayanad MP, who attacks the Centre daily through Twitter, has not been able to tweet for two days due to restrictions. Congress gave this information late on Saturday evening, as well as told that the process of restoring the account is being done.
Party leaders started targeting Twitter and the central government, while Congress workers started the trend of “Main Bhi Rahul”. The Congress has also raised the question that action was taken against Rahul Gandhi for sharing the picture of the victim’s family by Twitter whilst a similar picture was also taken by the National Commission for Scheduled Castes for which no action was taken.
On Sunday, Congress general secretary and media in-charge Randeep Surjewala tweeted the picture tweeted by Rahul Gandhi earlier (which was removed by Twitter) and wrote in Hindi: “Instead of giving justice to the daughter of a Dalit, the PM Modi led government is conspiring to suppress the loud voice demanding sympathy and justice. PM Modi, by scaring #Twitter, closing the account of Rahul Gandhi, you will not be able to suppress the voice of justice.”